New social security convention with Morocco

Belgium signed a new bilateral social security agreement with Morocco on 18 February 2014 that replaces the 1968 agreement. Eight years later, this agreement has been ratified in both countries, it entered into force on 1 June 2022.

The new agreement sets up a more complete framework for health insurance. It covers health and maternity insurance, disability benefits for accidents at work and occupational diseases, retirement and survivor pensions, unemployment benefits, and family benefits.

There are also some new rules to determine which social security legislation is applicable in cross-border situations. The general is that this is the social security legislation of the country where the individual is effectively working, except :

• In case of secondment, the worker remains liable to the social security legislation of the state from where he has been seconded for 24 months, which can be extended to 36 months by agreement by the social security authorities of both states
• Workers who work simultaneously in both states are subject to the social security of their state of residence.
• There are specific rules for workers who work in the international transport of passengers or goods.
• Civil servants remain subject to the legislation of the State they are working for.

Officials from Belgium and Morocco, signed an administrative arrangement for implementation of the social security agreement on 23 May

More information can be found here.